Out of the Blue

by Electric Light Orchestra

Overview

Nowadays, 1977 is remembered as both the year of punk and the year of disco. At the time, though, it was the year of Fleetwood Mac's RUMOURS and Electric Light Orchestra's OUT OF THE BLUE, two albums that were simply inescapable. But where overexposure made RUMOURS feel somewhat stale and dated, OUT OF THE BLUE sounds as fresh now as it did at the time. This is due in large part to the obsessive insularity of Jeff Lynne's aesthetic. He seems not to be ignoring musical trends, but to be simply unaware of them. Lynne's mid-period Beatles fixation combines with his love of lush orchestrations and pristine production to create some of his strongest music, including the enormous hits "Turn to Stone," "Sweet Talkin' Woman" and "Mr. Blue Sky." However, the autobiographical "Birmingham Blues" suggests that Lynne was tiring of the rock-star grind, which might explain ELO's lowered profile after this release.

Product Details

Release Date:	08/15/2025
Label:	Sony Legacy
UPC:	0198029057515

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Electric Light Orchestra   Primary Artist
Hugh McDowell   Cello
Melvyn Gale   Cello,Piano
Mik Kaminski   Violin
Richard Tandy   ARP Synthesizer,Piano,Guitar,Arp 2600,Clavinet,Polymoog,Keyboards,Mini Moog,Wurlitzer,Synthesizer,Moog Synthesizer
Kelly Groucutt   Vocals (Background),Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Percussion,Lead Vocals
Bev Bevan   Vocals (Background),Gong,Drums,Vocals,Cymbals,Tom-Tom,Percussion,Drum Sticks,Drums (Electric)
Jeff Lynne   Vocals (Background),Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Mini Moog,Wurlitzer,Percussion,Lead Vocals,Synthesizer,Slide Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Mack   Special Effects
Louis Clark   Conductor

Technical Credits

Jeff Lynne   Reissue Producer,Audio Production,Composer,Arranger,Producer,Memorabilia,Photography,Orchestration,Choir Arrangement
Jeff Magid   Reissue Producer,Producer
Mack   Engineer
Reinhold Mack   Engineer
Joseph M. Palmaccio   Mastering,Reissue Mastering
Richard Tandy   Effects,Arranger,Sequencers,Orchestration,Choir Arrangement,Orchestral Arrangements
Ryan Ulyate   Engineer
Louis Clark   Arranger,Orchestration,Choir Arrangement,Orchestral Arrangements
Ria Lewerke   Design,Art Direction
Michael Bryan   Artwork,Portraits
Barry Plummer   Photography
Rob Caiger   Liner Notes,Reissue Coordination
Goreen Turvis   Dancer
Bladys Turvis   Dancer
Tim Fraser-Harding   Reissue Coordination
Charlie Stanford   Reissue Coordination
Shusei Nagaoka   Cover Illustration
Robert Ellis   Photography
Kosh   Design,Art Direction
Laurence Stevens   Reconstruction
Bladys   Dancer
Spratley's Dancing Academy   Dancer